Saint-André-d’Argenteuil Mayor Stephen Matthews has raised concerns about the Alto rail project, saying his municipality has not yet received direct contact from the project’s proponents, despite confirmation that the proposed line will pass through the municipality.
Matthews said no specific route has been announced for the project locally and that municipal officials have not been approached to schedule discussions, adding, “No actual contact whatsoever, not even trying to schedule anything.”
Residents and farmers in the municipality are seeking more information about how the project could affect their properties. Matthews said several local farmers attended a recent information session held in Saint-Philippe, hoping to learn more, but many questions remained unanswered.
“They wanted to have more information on where it was going to pass, whether it was going to affect their farms,” Matthews said. “But the route remains vague with a wide corridor.”
According to Matthews, concerns raised include how the rail corridor could affect access to farmland, whether roads could become dead ends, and how large farm equipment will move between fields if the line crosses rural routes.
Matthews also raised concerns about potential impacts on municipal infrastructure during construction, noting that heavy equipment traffic could strain local roads.
“It’s going to be a lot of stress on our roads that are already in very bad condition,” he said.
Matthews said he is personally opposed to the project, arguing he does not believe it will benefit residents in his municipality, stating, “I am against the project totally. I don’t think it will bring any advantage to the citizens of my community.”
Among his concerns are the potential impacts on emergency services and local transportation if the rail line creates barriers within rural areas.
“It would be difficult for our firemen to be first responders,” he said, adding that school bus routes and daily travel could also be affected by the high-speed rail line.
Noise from frequent train traffic is another concern. Matthews said residents who live near the line but are not expropriated could still face quality-of-life impacts, especially those who chose Saint-André-d’Argenteuil for its calm and quiet lifestyle.
Matthews also recently voted against supporting a proposed Alto station in Mirabel during discussions at the Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) d’Argenteuil council in February, saying additional stops would undermine the concept of high-speed rail. “The objective of a high-speed train is to get from one destination to another quickly,” he said.
Instead, Matthews suggested regional transportation options such as shuttle buses or a local train service that could better serve residents by improving access to urban centres like Laval.
While acknowledging municipalities may have limited ability to influence the project, Matthews said public input could still play a role.
“I just think that everyone should get together and voice their concerns,” Matthews said.
